FRANCE-ECONOMY-ENERGY-STRIKE

Exterior view dated 28 March 2007 of the Reichstett refinery, eastern France, threatened of slowing down its production due to a 15-day dockers' strike at the port of Marseille demanding the recruitment of port workers at a new GDF (national gas compagny) gas terminal at Fos-sur-Mer. The action has depressed activity in roughly half the country's 13 refineries. "The lack of supplies means that some refineries are going to start eating into reserves from this week and slowing down production. The first problems for private consumers could appear at the start of April," said Jean-Francois Cousinie, of the French Union of Petroleum Industries. AFP PHOTO OLIVIER MORIN (Photo by Olivier MORIN / AFP) (Photo by OLIVIER MORIN/AFP via Getty Images)